Goobers,
Yes it has become more of the norm for all auto makers not to include a spare tire or a dedicated place for a spare, but it shouldn't be and consumers shouldn't accept this practice at least not until good airless tires hit the market. Consumers have no problem paying a little extra for a vehicle to include a spare tire, which actually doesn't cost a manufacture that much. But in a Tesla a spare tire could have been designed below the cargo area truck, just like the first Honda Insight did. It had a huge sub trunk and below that was a small spare tire. I'd gladly accept losing 1 mile of range due to the weight of a small spare tire. And we all know Tesla fudged their advertised range numbers and why they got lower across the board, so now they are more realistic numbers, (And just another reason why 400 miles should be the lowest end for all EV's).
Tesla should have given the cars tie down points in the cargo/trunk area so owners could secure a spare tire there if they wanted. At the very least there should be tie down points anyway for luggage and things during trips. Because stuff not properly secured can become deadly missiles during a crash. And child seat anchors are not rated to hold the weight of spare tire, which is greater than a small child. But lets say they were, then how would a spare be secured to them, without causing damage to the interior of the car?
And while most people may never get a flat tire in the life time, some get them frequently. I've only had one blow out 40 years ago and my spare didn't have air in it so I was stranded and forced to walk to find a pay phone, no cell phones back then. Had I checked the spare regularly it would have had air in it and I would have been back on my way in 5 minutes, but I was young and stupid. Over the years I have had nails and screws stuck in my tires and luckily noticed them get lower and was able to plug them myself. I really do wish good airless tires get to the market soon and we won't have to think about this issue anymore. But auto manufactures shouldn't have removed spare tires prior to a good spare replacement was found. Fix a flat is good for most issues to get you moving again but not for all punctures. I've carried some form of it in my vehicles, along with a tire plug kit and small compressor for many years. However, it would be faster to replace the tire than plugging it, getting dirty or wet in the rain without cell service late at night.